The rise of cloud computing prompted venture capitalists to pour billions of dollars into cybersecurity startups that sell specialized software to secure cloud-based apps and data. Now the same investors say they expect to see bigger companies snap up many of those startups.

A tougher environment for raising private capital and growing interest in the category from potential buyers are key reasons cybersecurity will likely see consolidation. The potential targets include four Israeli startups, three of which compete head-to-head in scanning traffic to and from corporate applications in the cloud; two companies that sell tools for software engineers looking for security flaws in their cloud work; and one founded a decade ago to help companies control employee access to certain corporate data in the cloud.